3 Healthy Fast Food Options

Eating a perfectly healthy diet every day is easy. Of course, it does take a lot of money. And time. And effort. And staying up to date on the ever-changing world of health trends. OK, maybe it’s not that easy.

For those of us without an unlimited amount of money, time and patience, sometimes we still need to take the fast food route. Even for those who do have the necessary means to eat a perfect diet, sometimes those Golden Arches and that deliciously bad goodness just seems to call out to you. But just because it comes from a drive-thru, does not mean it is necessarily bad for you anymore.

With Americans becoming increasingly conscious of our own health and the nearly epidemic levels of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other diet-related conditions, popular restaurants have had to make some adjustments. Maybe a fast food survey actually has an impact because these changes have not escaped that industry either. Over the last 10 years, there has been a revolution in major restaurant chains which has helped to make the world a better place and humans a healthier species.

Obviously, this does not mean that a double cheeseburger and a large order of french fries is as good as a plate of steamed vegetables, but there are some legitimately healthy offerings in just about every major fast food chain. Surprisingly enough, not all of them are salads, either.

The following are a few options for those who are on the go or short on cash but still don’t want to feel their arteries clogging as they eat. While many of these offerings are still relatively low on the overall health scale compared to more traditionally healthy dishes, they do pose some great alternatives when fast food is the best (or only) choice available.

1. Burger King: Original Whopper Jr.

Any list about fast food has to start with a great burger. Burger King’s flagship Whopper is definitely one of the best and most famous fast food offerings on the market, and its son is actually a decent option if you are craving a burger. If you order it without mayo, the Whopper Jr. has only 160 calories and is relatively low on sodium and fat compared to many other fast food burgers.

2. Wendy’s: Grilled Chicken Wrap

Wendy’s was one of the first major fast food chains to move towards a healthier menu. Although they still have just as many deliciously fattening burgers as the next joint, they began expanding their menu to include salads and other healthy fare before it was the industry standard. Wendy’s salads are still good options for something light and healthy, but their Grilled Chicken Wrap is even better with only 270 calories and 3 grams of sugar, plus 20 grams of protein.

3. McDonald’s: Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad

It may be surprising that any dish beginning with “bacon” could be considered healthy, but the Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad is actually packed full of vegetables and four types of greens which make up for that small indulgence. It only has 320 calories but comes packed with 42 grams of protein.